Improvement in vehicle tops



UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn EDWARD M. LAWRENCE, OF GINUINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,324, dated April 18, 1876; application filed February 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. LAW- RENGE, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Folding Oarriage-Top, of which the following is a specification:

My invention is especially designed for the class of carriages known as landaulets and couplets, and comprisesa novel arrangement, whereby such a vehicle may be quickly and conveniently converted from the closed to the open form, and the reverse, without removal of any member from the vehicle.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the front upper portion of a landaulet embodying my invention, the continuous lines in said figure showing the parts in their elevated position, and the dotted lines showing the same parts in the act of being folded. Fig. 2 represents, by side elevation, the position of the same parts with the top down.

A may represent a portion of a customary landaulet-body, and B its boot. Hinged to the body A, in the manner shown at c, are two customary front posts, 0 O, which posts may be held'to the erect position by means of pin D occupying orifices b and c, or by other suitable fastening. The front portion E is disconnected from the main portion of the top at 0, so as to constitute the customary separable joint or parting. The said front top E is hinged at F to a bar or plate, G, which is itself hinged at g to the rear side of the post 0, some distance below its top, which latter has a similardouble-hinge connection, F G g, with the post 0. Each of said front posts has a hooked bolt, H, which, being engaged within a slotted plate, I, attached to the top E, and being turned a quarter around, serves to hold the said top and posts rigidly together for a closed carriage, as shown in Fi .1.

%7Vhen, on the contrary, an open carriage is desired, the operator has merely to release the bolts H and the pins D, and to then fold the parts, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, until they reach the position shown in Fig. 2.

This folding operation would, however, be impracticable with a drivers seat rigidly attached in the usual position. I therefore attach my seat J by means of hinged brackets K, which, in conjunction with straps M, permit of said seat being thrown forward, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Posts L L serve to support the seat J in its normal po sition. Props N N, which rise from the boot B direct, or from the fenders O, serve to support the folded body front, as represented in Fig. 2.

The front and main portions of the body may be additionally fastened when closed by any customary or suitable means.

My invention is here illustrated in connection with a circular-front landaulet, but is applicable to other kindred forms, such as octagon and flat-front landaulets and coupelets.

I have described the form of drivers seat which I prefer to employ for this purpose; but it is evident that my folding front may be used with a seat either fixed or capable of being shifted, so as to be out of contact with the lowered top.

It is apparent that the double-jointed construction of the hinges F G g F G g enable the front top to be folded with so little forward protrusion as to encroach on the seat room much less than would otherwise occur, and hence greater compactness and a shorter boot are made possible.

I make no claim to hinged front posts, nor to hinged tops, separately considered, nor to a hinged or removable drivers seat, all such being old.

I claim as new and of my invention- In the described combination, the front top E, connected by the pair of double-jointed hinges F G g F G g, with a pair of hinged front posts, 0 0, arranged and operating as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD M. LAWRENCE.

Attest:

J OHN M. MILLER, GEO. H. KNIGHT. 

